U.S. patent number 10,246,211 [Application Number 15/089,723] was granted by the patent office on 2019-04-02 for container produced from a helically bent sheet metal strip.
The grantee listed for this patent is Xaver Lipp. Invention is credited to Xaver Lipp.
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United States Patent |
10,246,211 |
Lipp |
April 2, 2019 |
Container produced from a helically bent sheet metal strip
Abstract
A container is produced from a single-layered, helically bent
sheet metal strip. In the strip's upper or lower border region a
first helically running border portion of the strip is bent out via
a helically running outwardly bent edge with a curved region toward
the outside of the container as a protruding flange. A second
helically running border portion is in the lower/upper border
region. The border regions each border one another adjacently
height-wise and are connected to one another in a fluid-tight
manner via a continuous, helically running welded joint. The second
border portion runs rectilinearly in the plane of the strip and the
welded joint has a first and a second weld seam. The first and
second weld seams are applied from the outside and the inside of
the container, respectively, and the two weld seams are fused to
each other in the weld route thereof.
Inventors: |
Lipp; Xaver (Ellwangen,
DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lipp; Xaver |
Ellwangen |
N/A |
DE |
|
|
Family
ID: |
54427527 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/089,723 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160297559 A1 |
Oct 13, 2016 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 8, 2015 [DE] |
|
|
10 2015 004 281 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
90/08 (20130101); B65D 90/029 (20130101); E04H
7/06 (20130101); E04H 7/30 (20130101); B21C
37/12 (20130101); B65D 1/40 (20130101); B65D
1/165 (20130101); B21C 37/122 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
1/16 (20060101); B65D 90/02 (20190101); B65D
90/08 (20060101); E04H 7/06 (20060101); E04H
7/30 (20060101); B21C 37/12 (20060101); B65D
1/40 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;220/608,612
;228/145,184 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 241 354 |
|
Dec 1999 |
|
CA |
|
2 250 239 |
|
Apr 1974 |
|
DE |
|
199 39 180 |
|
Feb 2001 |
|
DE |
|
20 2012 009 932 |
|
Nov 2012 |
|
DE |
|
10 2015 004 281 |
|
Dec 2015 |
|
DE |
|
1 181 115 |
|
Feb 2002 |
|
EP |
|
1 424 853 |
|
Feb 1976 |
|
GB |
|
1152511 |
|
Apr 1985 |
|
SU |
|
00/72991 |
|
Dec 2000 |
|
WO |
|
2014/048515 |
|
Apr 2014 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
European Search Report in EP 15003067.4-1604, dated Jan. 16, 2011.
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Poon; Robert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Collard & Roe, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container comprising: a single-layered, helically bent sheet
metal strip having an upper border region and a lower border
region; a first helically running border portion in the upper
border region or the lower border region of the single-layered,
helically bent sheet metal strip, wherein the first helically
running border portion is bent out via a helically running
outwardly bent edge with a curved region toward an outside of the
container as a protruding flange; a second helically running border
portion in the upper border region or the lower border region of
the single-layered, helically bent sheet metal strip, wherein the
second helically running border portion runs rectilinearly in a
plane of the single-layered, helically bent sheet metal strip;
wherein the first helically running border portion and the second
helically running border portion each border one another in a
manner adjacent in terms of height; a continuous, helically running
welded joint connecting the first helically running border portion
and the second helically running border portion in a fluid-tight
manner, the continuous, helically running welded joint comprising a
first weld seam and a second weld seam; wherein the first weld seam
is fused from the outside of the container to an outer-side wall of
the second helically running border portion and a wall of the
curved region; wherein the second weld seam is fused from an inside
to an end surface of the second helically running border portion;
and wherein a first weld route of the first weld seam and a second
weld route of the second weld seam are fused to each other such
that a homogeneous fully fused welded joint runs from the outside
to the inside.
2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height level of
an upper border of the first helically running border portion and a
height level of the end surface of the second helically running
border portion are substantially identical with regard to border
regions of the sheet metal strip that are arranged adjacent in
terms of height.
3. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height level of
an upper border of the first helically running border portion and a
height level of the end surface of the second helically running
border portion have a distance upward in terms of height with
respect to border regions of the sheet metal strip that are
arranged adjacent in terms of height.
4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height level of
an upper border of the first helically running border portion and a
height level of the end surface of the second helically running
border portion have a distance downward in terms of height with
respect to border regions of the sheet metal strip that are
arranged adjacent in terms of height.
5. The container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the distance lies
within a range of between 50% and 100% of a sheet metal thickness
of the sheet metal strip.
6. The container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the distance lies
within a range of between 50% and 100% of a sheet metal thickness
of the sheet metal strip.
7. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the
first weld seam lies within a range of between 100% and 200% of a
sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal strip.
8. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of the
second weld seam lies within a range of between 100% and 300% of a
sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal strip.
9. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bending radius of
the curved region of the outwardly bent edge lies within a range of
between 2 mm and 20 mm.
10. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
helically running border portion and a third border portion of the
sheet metal strip, which third border portion is adjacent to the
curved region, lie in a plane with respect to the sheet metal strip
which border one another adjacently in terms of height.
11. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved region
of the outwardly bent edge has an increased radius and the curved
region forms a convex region protruding toward the inside.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 of German
Application No. 10 2015 004 281.5 filed Apr. 8, 2015, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container produced from a
single-layered, helically bent sheet metal strip, in the upper or
in the lower border region of the sheet metal strip a first
helically running border portion of the sheet metal strip being
bent out via a helically running outwardly bent edge with a curved
region toward the outside of the container as a protruding flange,
there being a second helically running border portion in the
lower/upper border region of the sheet metal strip, and the
helically running border regions of the sheet metal strip, which
each border one another in a manner adjacent in terms of height,
being connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner via a
continuous, helically running welded joint.
2. Prior Art
Containers produced from helically bent sheet metal strip are known
from DE 2 250 239 A or EP 1 181 115 B1. In order to produce
containers, a coil with a diameter corresponding to the container
diameter is shaped here from a sheet metal strip. During the
production of a container of this type, the mutually assigned coil
sheet metal strip borders are first of all bent out and are
subsequently connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner on
the outside of the container by means of a seam. For this purpose,
the mutually opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet metal strip
are each bent out in a U-shaped manner and the mutually assigned
sheet metal borders bent out in a U-shaped manner are placed one
inside another and are subsequently connected by seaming. This
system is commercially known as the Lipp dual-seam system and has
proven successful in diverse situations. By means of said Lipp
dual-seam system, simple and rapid production of the containers
with a variable diameter and variable height is possible.
Transportable sheet metal bending and installation apparatuses
ensure that the container can be installed at the respective
erection site and the transport volume can be corresponding
reduced.
It is known from DE 199 39 180 A1 to produce a container in such a
manner that a first border portion is bent out toward the outside,
forming a helically running outwardly bent edge, and a second
border portion of the sheet metal strip, which is arranged
adjacently thereabove, is bent over outward and is then connected
to a first border portion by a seam.
For the previous applications of said container system, for example
for storing bulk materials from agriculture and forestry, or
biowaste, the containers have excellent stability, tightness and
media resistance. However, for further applications, such as, for
example, the storage of fluid media, such as vegetable oils,
natural oil or the like, a significantly larger container volume is
required, and in which applications the tightness has to be
reliably ensured. The associated increased mechanical stability of
the containers cannot be adequately ensured by the known seam
systems. In particular, the seam system reaches its limits in the
event of great sheet metal thicknesses.
In order to provide containers which are produced helically from
bent sheet metal strip and the range of application of which is
increased, in particular with regard to the realization of a large
storage volume and/or increased mechanical stability while ensuring
nevertheless simple and rapid production capability and
installation, solutions have been developed which replace the seam
connection with a welded joint.
WO 2014/048515 A1 discloses a container produced from a helically
bent sheet metal strip of the type described at the beginning,
wherein the border portions of the adjacent border regions, which
run one above another in terms of height, of the sheet metal strip
are connected to one another via a welded joint. The border regions
overlap here and are connected to one another in a fluid-tight
manner by means of two separate weld seams. The distance present
between the weld seams gives rise, in the overlapping region of
adjacent border regions of the sheet metal strip, to a gap region
between the overlapping walls, which gap region is not controllable
in a simple manner with respect to possible risks of corrosion or
the like after the container has been produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Starting from the prior art mentioned with regard to the welded
design, the present invention is based on the object or the
technical problem of providing a container which further increases
the range of application of containers of this type, in particular
ensures the same while retaining the economic production capability
in situ by means of helical sheet metal strips, and which has wall
thicknesses which cannot be realized by the known seam methods,
meets very exactly requirements with regard to purity, media
resistance and tightness, and ensures a permanently reliable
operation and permits container sizes to be realized with regard to
diameter and height that could not be realized hitherto.
These and other objects are achieved by a container according to
the invention.
Advantageous refinements and developments are set forth below.
Accordingly, the container according to the invention of the type
mentioned at the beginning is distinguished in that the second
border portion of the sheet metal strip runs rectilinearly in the
plane of the sheet metal strip, the welded joint has a first and a
second weld seam, the first weld seam, which is preferably produced
first of all, being fused from the outside of the container to the
outer-side wall of the second border portion and the wall of the
curved region, the second weld seam, which is preferably produced
subsequently, being fused from the inside to the end surface of the
second border portion of the sheet metal strip, and the weld routes
of the first and second weld seam being fused to each other such
that there is a homogeneous fully fused welded joint running from
the outside to the inside.
During the production of the welded joint, preferably the first
weld seam is applied first of all from the outside and then the
second weld seam is applied from the inside.
However, it is also possible to apply the second weld seam first of
all from the inside and then to apply the first weld seam from the
outside.
Alternatively, the two weld seams can also be applied
simultaneously.
A particularly advantageous refinement ensuring high stability is
distinguished in that the height level of the upper border of the
first border portion and the height level of the end surface of the
second border portion is substantially identical with regard to
border regions of the sheet metal strip that are arranged adjacent
in terms of height.
Alternatively, an advantageous refinement is distinguished in that
the height level of the upper border of the first border portion
and the height level of the end surface of the second border
portion has a distance upward in terms of height with respect to
border regions of the sheet metal strip that are arranged adjacent
in terms of height.
A further advantageous refinement, by means of which an
advantageous, continuous welded joint is made possible with little
material consumption, is distinguished in that the height level of
the upper border of the first border portion and the height level
of the end surface of the second border portion has a distance
downward in terms of height with respect to border regions of the
sheet metal strip that are arranged adjacent in terms of
height.
In respect of the practical realization, a particularly
advantageous refinement with respect to production and ensuring
simple production and a reliable homogeneous welded joint has
proven advantageous to form said joint in such a manner that the
distance downward lies within the range of between 50% and 100% of
the sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal strip or alternatively
the distance upward lies within the range of between 50% and 200%
of the sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal strip.
A variant embodiment which is particularly simple in practice and
can be implemented reliably is distinguished in that the width of
the first weld seam lies within the range of between 100% and 200%
of the sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal strip, and/or the
width of the second weld seam lies within the range of between 100%
and 300% of the sheet metal thickness of the sheet metal strip.
With regard to an economic and reliable implementation, a variant
embodiment has proven advantageous in which the radius of the
curved region lies within the range between 2 mm and 20 mm, as a
result of which the range can easily be met for the increased
requirements in the case of containers with a large diameter and
high carrying loads.
A particularly preferred refinement which ensures a "smooth" inner
surface of the container is distinguished in that the second border
portion and the third border portion lie in the center plane of the
sheet metal strips arranged in each case one above another in terms
of height, and therefore a smooth inner surface is ensured within
the proportion of the container, said inner surface, because of the
welded joint provided, having high strength and not having any
edges present on the inner side at which filling material may
accumulate.
A particularly preferred development which ensures high rigidity in
the region of the joint is distinguished in that the curved region
of the outwardly bent edge has an increased radius and the curved
region forms a convex region which protrudes toward the inside and
then merges into the projecting first border portion.
The container according to the invention is distinguished in the
simplest manner in that a welded joint is provided in the region of
the connection of border regions of the sheet metal region, which
border regions are adjacent one above the other in terms of height,
said welded joint having a homogeneous structure and reliably
connecting the bordering border regions to one another without--as
in the prior art--there being gap regions between the border
regions that contain potential with respect to possible risks of
corrosion. The homogeneous penetration welding in the border region
of sheet metal strips bordering one another ensures a high
load-bearing capacity and a permanently reliable operation.
At the same time, the design according to the invention permits the
production of containers with great wall thicknesses in order to be
able economically to realize containers with large dimensions,
maintaining the welded joint principle for the borders of a
helically running sheet metal strip.
Further embodiments and advantages of the invention emerge from the
features furthermore cited in the claims and from the exemplary
embodiments indicated below. The features of the claims can be
combined with one another in any manner unless they clearly
mutually exclude one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention and advantageous embodiments and developments of same
are described and explained in more detail below with reference to
the examples illustrated in the drawing. The features which can be
gathered from the description and the drawing may be used,
according to the invention, individually on their own or more than
one together in any combination. In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a container according to the
invention,
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged illustration of a cross section through
the connecting point between border regions, which are adjacent in
terms of height, of the sheet metal strip according to detail I
from FIG. 1, in a first exemplary embodiment,
FIG. 3 shows an enlarged illustration of a cross section through
the connecting point between border regions, which are adjacent in
terms of height, of the sheet metal strip according to detail II
from FIG. 1, in a second exemplary embodiment,
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged illustration of a cross section through
the connecting point between border regions, which are adjacent in
terms of height, of the sheet metal strip according to detail III
from FIG. 1, in a third exemplary embodiment.
WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a view of at container 10 according to the invention
as may be used for storing bulk materials from agricultural and
forestry, for example cereals, wood chips or biowaste, or for
storing water, wastewater or sewage sludge, or else for storing gas
or natural oil. The container 10 is substantially cylindrical, in
particular circular-cylindrical, on the outside thereof and the
inside thereof, with a vertically oriented longitudinal axis
12.
The production of the container 10 takes place, preferably directly
at the erection site of the container 10, using a helically bent
sheet metal strip 20. The diameter 14 of the container 10 may be
between 4 m and 20 m or more. The height 16 of the container 10 may
be between 2 m and 20 m or more. The capacity of the container 10
may be, for example, between 15 m.sup.3 and 8000 m.sup.3. The
preferably homogeneous thickness 50 (FIG. 2) of the sheet metal
strip 20 is between 2 mm and 12 mm, in the present case may in
particular be more than 5 mm, preferably more than 6 mm and less
than 12 mm, for example between 8 mm and 10 mm. The width 18 of the
sheet metal strip 20 may be between 20 cm and 100 cm, in particular
between 30 cm and 80 cm and preferably between 40 cm and 60 cm; in
the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the width 18 of the sheet
metal strip 20 is approximately 50 cm.
FIG. 2 illustrates the detail I from FIG. 1 in the connecting
region. The outside of the container 10 is identified by the
reference sign A and the inside by the reference sign I. The upper
border region of a lower sheet metal strip 20.1 and of an upper
sheet metal strip 20.2, which is adjacent vertically on the upper
side, is illustrated in each case. The two sheet metal strips 20.1,
20.2 are arranged running helically in a plane E, wherein the plane
E is the center plane of the container 10. The lower sheet metal
strip 20.1 has a first border portion 22 which is bent out toward
the outside via an outwardly bent edge 24 and forms a protruding
flange. In the region of the outwardly bent edge 24, there is a
curved region B with a bending radius R which is adjoined by a
third border portion 28 of the lower sheet metal strip 20.1, which
lies in the plane E. The size of the radius R may be within the
range of between 2 mm and 10 mm or more.
The first border portion 22 is present substantially at a right
angle to the third border portion 28. The first border portion 22
likewise runs helically. The respective height level of the first
border portion 22 is identified in FIG. 2 by the arrow tip H1.
A second border portion 26 of the upper sheet metal strip 20.2,
which border portion runs rectilinearly in the plane E, is present
adjacent upward in the vertical direction. The lower-side end
surface 30 of the second border portion 26 of the upper sheet metal
strip 20.2 is arranged in a height level H2, wherein the height
level H2 runs in the vertical direction at a distance D1 below the
height level H1. The right edge of the end surface 30 bears on the
upper side against the curved region B. In the exemplary embodiment
illustrated, the distance D1 between the height level H1 and the
height level H2 substantially corresponds to the sheet metal
thickness 50.
The connection of the upper sheet metal strip 20.2 to the lower
sheet metal strip 20.2 takes place via a helically running welded
joint 40.
The welded joint 40 here comprises a first weld seam 42 which is
applied first of all from the outside A and by means of which the
outside of the second border portion 26 of the upper sheet metal
strip 20.2 is fused to the upper side of the curved region B of the
lower sheet metal strip 20.1. Furthermore, there is a second weld
seam 44 which is applied from the inside I after the first weld
seam 42 has been applied and which is fused to the end surface 30
of the second border portion 26 of the upper sheet metal strip 20.2
and the upper side of the curved region B of the lower sheet metal
strip 20.1. During the welding, the weld routes of the first and
second weld seam 42, 44 are also fused to each other, and therefore
a welded joint 40 which is continuously homogeneous from the
outside inward and has a high load-bearing capacity is present. At
the same time, absolute seal tightness is ensured.
It is also possible to apply the second weld seam 44 first of all
from the inside I and then to apply the first weld seam from the
outside A.
In an alternative manner of production, the first and second weld
seam 42, 44 are applied simultaneously.
FIG. 3 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the connecting
structure of a lower border region of an upper sheet metal strip
20.2 to the upper border region of a lower sheet metal strip 20.1,
wherein the sheet metal strips 20.1, 20.2 have the same geometry as
the sheet metal strips 20.1, 20.2 illustrated in FIG. 2. Identical
components bear the same reference signs and are not explained once
again.
The difference over FIG. 2 consists in that the upper sheet metal
strip 20.2 or the lower end surface 30 thereof is arranged at a
height level H2 which runs at a distance D2 above the height level
H1 of the upper side of the first border portion 22 of the lower
sheet metal strip 20.1. In the exemplary embodiment, the distance
D2 substantially corresponds to the sheet metal thickness 50. By
means of the geometrical arrangement, it is possible to apply a
welded joint to the first weld seam 42 and the second weld seam 44
that has an increased weld seam thickness, which permits a
particularly high load-bearing capacity of the welded joint
construction while simultaneously ensuring absolute seal
tightness.
In the exemplary embodiments according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it is
also possible for the second weld seam 44 to be applied in such a
manner that it is fused not only to the end surface 30 of the
second border portion 26 of the upper sheet metal strip 20.2, but
is also fused to the lower border region of the inner wall of the
second border portion 26.
FIG. 4 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment according to detail
III from FIG. 1 in the connecting region between an upper and a
lower sheet metal strip 20.1, 20.2, in which the basic arrangement
of the lower sheet metal strip and of the upper sheet metal strip
corresponds to the arrangement according to the exemplary
embodiments of FIG. 3, but with the difference that, in the region
of the outwardly bent edge 24, the radius R1 of the curved region
B1 is substantially increased, and the curved region B1 has a
convex region 48 which protrudes toward the inside I and on the
lower end region of which the third border portion 28.1 is
integrally formed and in the upper end region of which the second
border portion 22 (protruding flange) is integrally formed. The
height level H2 of the end surface 30 of the second border portion
26 of the upper sheet metal strip 20.2 is arranged offset upward by
the distance size D2 in relation to the height level H1 of the
upper side of the first border portion 22 of the lower sheet metal
strip 20.1. The connection of the two border regions of the sheet
metal strips 20.1, 20.2 also takes place via a welded joint 40 with
a first weld seam 42 which is applied from the outside A and with a
second weld seam 44 which is applied from the inside.
Here too, the first weld seam 42 is fused to the lower border
region of the second border portion 26 of the upper sheet metal
strip 20.2 and on the upper side to the end region of the curved
region B1, the second weld seam 44 is fused in the lower border
region to the inside I of the second border portion 26 and in
regions to the upper side of the curved region B1, and at the same
time the weld routes of the two weld seams 42, 44 are fused to each
other and at the same time the end surface 30 and the upper-side
region of the curved region B1, which upper-side region is opposite
the end surface 30, are fused.
The rigidity in the region of the connecting structure is increased
by the inwardly protruding convex region 48 of the curved region
B1. Also in this embodiment, there is a welded joint 40 which is
fully fused from the outside A to the inside I and which ensures
high load-bearing capacity with simultaneously absolute
tightness.
* * * * *